193. Revenge

30:6 The Talmud in Sotah (42a) tells us that four types of people will never get to enjoy God’s Presence: jesters, flatterers, liars and slanderers. This is based on the following Biblical verses: “He has removed His hand from the jesters” (Hosea 7:5); “A flatterer will not come before Him” (Job 13:16); “One who lies will not remain in My sight” (Psalms 101:7); and “You are not a God Who desires the wicked; evil will not dwell with You... There is no propriety in their mouths…” (Psalms 5:5, 10). The Talmud tells us (Sanhdrin 63b) that all types of mockery are forbidden except mocking idols (as we see Elijah did in I Kings 18:27). 30:7 Taking revenge violates a Torah prohibition (Leviticus 19:18). The definition of revenge is if one is refused permission to borrow a tool, he refuses permission to the other in retaliation. Instead of doing this, one should lend it to the one who refused him with a sincere heart. Our goal is to overcome pettiness over such insignificant slights. King David said in Psalms (7:5), “Have I avenged myself on those who wronged me? I rescued those who hated me for no reason.”